Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo was adamant that Tottenham midfielder James Maddison should have been sent off on Sunday for a “clear punch” on Ryan Yates.
Maddison and Yates clashed multiple times during the game. Yates was shown a yellow card in the 14th minute after fouling Maddison three times in the early stages.
The Spurs star was then lucky to avoid a card late in the first half after he appeared to dig his right hand into the stomach of Yates.
The off-the-ball incident was not seen by referee Simon Hooper but Espirito Santo believes that the video assistant should have intervened and that a red card should have been issued.
Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds beaten 3-1 by Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Nuno Espirito Santo pointed to two potentially decisive moments in the first half as he reflected on Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds remain out of the relegation zone on goal difference with six matches left to play, but it might have been a different story in the capital. Chris Wood cancelled out a Murillo own goal to equalise for the visitors before the half hour mark, then hit the woodwork with a good chance shortly after.
Had the New Zealander’s effort gone in, it would have put a different complexion on the game. Likewise, if James Maddison had been sent off for a jab at Ryan Yates on the stroke of half-time.
“It doesn’t look like he punched him, he did punch him,” Nuno said. “I saw the image.
“I was surprised VAR didn’t tell Simon (referee Simon Hooper) to review it. With all my respects, it is a punch in the stomach of Yates and should have been reviewed and a different decision.
“I didn’t ask the referee about it. But I saw it, that’s why I have no problem telling you I didn’t see it the same way (as the officials). We do not agree, me and VAR.”
Wood had scored for the fourth game in a row to give the visitors hope of claiming a result. However, with Forest unable to capitalise on a positive end to the first half, Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro put the game to bed after the break.
“There are two moments in the first half we have mentioned that could change the game,” Nuno said, in reference to the Maddison incident and Wood’s miss. “The first goal is beautiful – the way Chris took his shot and the movement on the right side. And then he had a good chance (to score again).
“Chris has been huge for us. He has been so important. What he does overcomes all of that.
“It’s clearly a red card……”: Nuno Espirito Santo throws brutal dig at VAR for not giving James Maddison a red card after a clear footage of the incident was released
Latest Nottingham Forest news as Nuno Espirito Santo’s Reds beaten 3-1 by Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Nuno Espirito Santo pointed to two potentially decisive moments in the first half as he reflected on Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
The Reds remain out of the relegation zone on goal difference with six matches left to play, but it might have been a different story in the capital. Chris Wood cancelled out a Murillo own goal to equalise for the visitors before the half hour mark, then hit the woodwork with a good chance shortly after.
Had the New Zealander’s effort gone in, it would have put a different complexion on the game. Likewise, if James Maddison had been sent off for a jab at Ryan Yates on the stroke of half-time.
“It doesn’t look like he punched him, he did punch him,” Nuno said. “I saw the image.
“I was surprised VAR didn’t tell Simon (referee Simon Hooper) to review it. With all my respects, it is a punch in the stomach of Yates and should have been reviewed and a different decision.
“I didn’t ask the referee about it. But I saw it, that’s why I have no problem telling you I didn’t see it the same way (as the officials). We do not agree, me and VAR.”
Wood had scored for the fourth game in a row to give the visitors hope of claiming a result. However, with Forest unable to capitalise on a positive end to the first half, Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro put the game to bed after the break.
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